Researching topics, creating content, summarising scientific texts, image and video editing and creation, target group and data analysis, proofreading – the possibilities for using artificial intelligence (AI) in everyday editorial work are diverse and can optimise and simplify processes. At Citizen Conservation (CC), we haven’t yet delved deeply into AI applications, but for this year’s summer series on our social media channels, we did take a closer look and had the identity of some of our CC species disguised.
Dear AI, please create ...
So we selected a few of our species, described them and had AI convert these texts into short, fairytale-like, mysterious riddles. The results were then converted into images using a text-to-image programme and voilá: Our AI species puzzle was born. Of course, the success rate was not 100%. We usually had to adapt the texts a little and the image puzzles often took several attempts before a suitable motif emerged. However, on the way to the finished riddle, some interesting, mostly droll creatures saw the light of day – but not all of them are something you would like to meet.
Curiosities creatures
Nobody would have recognised the Lesser Rock Skipper, Staurois parvus, here, would they?
The stuff that nightmares are made of – though the Fire Salamander that served as a model is so cute!
Unfortunately, the Madagascar Rainbowfish didn't make it into our summer series, but we'd love to see these AI-generated fish swimming in aquariums. Unfortunately, the Madagascar Rainbowfish didn't make it into our summer series
With the tooth-carp species Tiger Limia, the AI has probably taken the combination tiger and fish a little too literally …
Admittedly, we were able to draw on a rich choice of motifs for Anderson’s Salamander – pink beautifies!
Who guessed it?
We shared the AI species riddles on our social media channels throughout the summer; the text and picture riddles on Tuesdays, followed by the solution on Thursdays so that our followers had the opportunity to guess – and all of our CC species were actually unmasked. There may be another edition of the format next year. After all, we have plenty of species that would lend themselves to this at CC.
CC species AI riddles
With skin as rough as the rock and a body reminiscent of a prehistoric creature, it lives in the mysterious forests of Vietnam. Its distinctive orange-coloured spots and fixed gaze are unmistakable. It moves silently through the shadows and often remains undetected.
A mystical aquatic creature that has become rare or even invisible in the rivers of Madagascar. Its full-grown body shimmers in grey-blue splendor, framed by delicate pink fins. Powerful lips adorn its face.
Instead of shouting loudly, it communicates like a mini air traffic controller at a waterfall. The creature displays this behaviour in the deep, dense rainforests of Asia. Who can unmask the animal?
A salamander with a brown pattern reminiscent of a leopard. Delicate, pink tufts adorn its eyes. It lives in the water, its german name reminiscent of crooked teeth.
A mysterious creature in black and yellow that hides in the shadows of the local forest. Legend has it that it can walk through the flames and banish fire with its skin secretion.
he gray animal, about twenty centimeters tall, comes from the shallows of a lake and lives underwater. Its skin is wrinkled. Who knows which CC species this could be?